Kiss / CA, USA – April 25, 1992 (Soundboard Edition)

In 1992, KISS welcomed Eric Singer and pushed forward into the final phase of their “non-makeup” era. After losing Eric Carr to cancer at the end of 1991, the band moved forward by recruiting Eric Singer—who had previously drummed for Paul Stanley’s solo band—as their new drummer. It was a fateful changing of the guard; there is even an anecdote that Carr himself once told Singer, “Someday, you’ll take my place.” Just before unleashing their triumphant album *Revenge*, the band embarked on a special tour of intimate clubs to debut this new lineup. Now, we present a superb stereo soundboard recording capturing one of those nights: the April 25, 1992, show in West Hollywood, recorded at the legendary Troubadour club. While this night was previously featured in the video release *Troubadour 1992*, this new release is *not* simply an audio rip from that video. Although it covers the same concert, it is derived from a completely different, previously unreleased soundboard master. Before discussing the impressive audio quality, let’s place the show in the context of the band’s timeline from that period: March 1992 (*Revenge* completed); April 23–May 10: North America #1 (13 shows) ← ★Here★; May 16–18: UK (3 shows) (May 19: *Revenge* released); May 20–26: UK (5 shows); Sept 27/30: Rehearsals (including *Revenge* Tour dress rehearsals); Oct 1–Dec 20: North America #2 (55 shows) (including *Alive III*). This release offers a soundboard recording of even higher quality than the video version—a definitive document of KISS in 1992, centered on the *Revenge* era. When discussing this era, the official masterpiece *ALIVE III*—born from the final leg of the tour—is the most famous release; however, the West Hollywood show featured here offers a completely different experience. It was the second show of the “North American Leg #1” tour—the very start of the run—and was technically a special gig for *MTV Headbanger’s Ball* rather than a standard tour date. As previously mentioned, this night was also captured in the video release *TROUBADOUR 1992*. Yet, this release features a new stereo soundboard master that far surpasses the audio track from that video. Sourced through our shop’s exclusive industry connections, this recording stands as the only professional-quality audio captured during that “North American Leg #1” club tour—the tour that introduced the new singer. While the source material likely originated from the same direct-from-console feed used for the video, the final quality is worlds apart; this release has been polished to a significantly higher standard. The most striking difference upon listening is the superb stereo imaging. Although the video’s audio was in stereo, it had some peculiar quirks: instruments were unnaturally panned left and right, and the overall soundstage was heavily skewed to the left. While the raw audio quality was excellent—making it perfectly adequate for a video—it felt rather awkward as a standalone live album. This release, however, is completely free of those flaws. The stereo image is perfectly centered, with every instrument sitting exactly where it belongs. Gene and Paul’s vocals stand front and center, while the guitars and rhythm section provide a solid, perfectly balanced foundation around them. It brings back the authentic ensemble balance that defined the KISS sound. Even better is the pristine, noise-free clarity; the crackling noises occasionally heard in the video version are gone, resulting in a beautiful sound from start to finish. Finally, the overall level of polish is remarkable. There are no overdubs—such as added crowd noise—and the carefully mixed and mastered sound rivals that of an official live album. It captures the sound of “KISS in 1992″—fresh, hard, heavy, and ferocious—exactly as they were during their peak years of 1973–1975. This soundboard album offers a setlist distinct from *Alive III*, making it a real treat for fans. While the runtime is shorter than the video version—omitting tracks like “Heaven’s On Fire,” “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” and “I Want You”—there is a clear reason for this. In fact, this recording was originally compiled as a single LP; it was crafted from the start to fit the constraints of an LP, meaning it was never intended to include every single song performed. Interestingly, the omitted tracks were all ones that had issues in the video version—such as incomplete footage, DJ chatter overlapping the music, or a drop in sound quality for those specific segments. Essentially, this release was produced as a cohesive work featuring only complete, high-quality performances. Forcing in material from the video source would have disrupted the album’s beautifully polished flow. The fact that this record plays seamlessly from start to finish is a direct result of this careful curation. Although shorter than the TV broadcast, the roughly 50-minute runtime is actually ideal for an LP-length live album, and it offers plenty of material not found on *Alive III*. Let’s break down the tracklist for comparison: *Revenge* (3 songs): “Unholy,” “Take It Off,” “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll To You II”; Others (6 + 2 songs): 70s – “Love Gun” (★), “Deuce,” “Shout It Out Loud” (★), “Cold Gin” (★★), “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock And Roll All Nite”; 80s – “Lick It Up,” “I Love It Loud.” (Note: “★” indicates songs not included on *Alive III*.) The tracks marked with “★★” are particularly notable, as they were absent even from acclaimed soundboard releases like *DEFINITIVE DETROIT 1992*, *DAYTON 1992*, and *CLEVELAND 1992*. The setlist is structured to showcase fresh material from the then-new *Revenge* album while unleashing a barrage of 70s anthems like “Love Gun,” “Deuce,” and “Detroit Rock City.” The band is firing on all cylinders, delivering a succession of highlights: the menacing power of “Unholy,” the swaggering strut of “Take It Off,” and the poignant “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll To You II.” “Cold Gin” is a standout track not to be missed; it was missing not only from *Alive III* but also from the aforementioned soundboard releases. This is a rare gem—a song choice unique to the intimate club setting—captured here with superb, direct-from-the-mixing-console sound quality. While it captures the same night as the video release, this soundboard album stands on its own as a completely different experience. Unearthed through our exclusive insider channels, this is truly one of KISS’s finest live recordings. This is a stereo soundboard recording of the April 25, 1992, West Hollywood show. Sourced from a newly discovered master obtained via exclusive insider connections, it represents the only professional recording from the club tour that introduced Eric Singer. The audio quality far surpasses that of the *Troubadour 1992* video release; instrument positioning—previously cluttered—is now sharply defined and centered, and the careful mixing and mastering (free of overdubs) give it the feel of an official live album. Originally compiled as a “finished product” intended for a single LP, it stands as one of the band’s greatest live recordings. Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA, USA 25th April 1992 STEREO SBD Revenge Clubs Tour UPGRADE!! (50:20) 1. Love Gun 2. Deuce 3. Shout It Out Loud 4. Unholy 5. Take It Off 6. Lick It Up 7. I Love It Loud 8. Cold Gin 9. Detroit Rock City 10. God Gave Rock and Roll to You 11. Rock and Roll All Nite STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING